Wednesday, October 17, 2007

"Next, we consider Antarctica".

As Adolf Hitler apparently once said about the Czech Republic/Slovakia. According to Al Jazeera, Britain is planning to submit a claim to the UN to expand its territory in Antarctica by one million sq km, its foreign office has said.

But the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, agreed in 1991, designates Antarctica as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science". The protocol bans any activity relating to Antarctic mineral resources except for scientific research until 2048 when changes to the agreement can be made by unanimous agreement of all parties to the Antarctic Treaty.

Greenpeace told Al Jazeera that no one should be staking a claim for mineral exploitation in Antarctica, particularly oil and gas. "Actually staking a claim, makes governments and companies think of when to do it, how to do it, how soon they can get there, and ultimately brings forward the date when exploitation can begin." More details on Al Jazeera and, as usual, weak protests in the UK Guardian about these allegedly bad activities.

IMO: And yet again, the warnings of Greenpeace and others are apparently ignored by Lower Slobbovia (aka "United Kingdom").